KEVIN CUTHBERT has warned his Hamilton team-mates to show no fear against Hibernian tonight.

The New Douglas Park side host the free-falling Edinburgh club this evening in the first leg of the SPFL Premiership play-off final.

Momentum is firmly with Accies as they get ready to face the Hibees on the back of an impressive run in which they have lost just once in their last 15 outings.

A big part of that success has been down to Cuthbert's goalkeeping heroics with the No.1 producing some stunning saves in both legs of the play-off semi-final success over Falkirk.

But ahead of tonight's mouth-watering encounter the Accies star has urged his outfield team-mates to play with courage and conviction.

He has also told them to impose their passing game on an Easter Road side whose confidence must be at best brittle, after failing to record a win since mid-February.

Cuthbert said: "We must have absolute belief in our ability to impose our game on Hibs. What we can't do is allow fear to infect us.

"If we do then it will mean we do not have the confidence to play our game and if that happens then we will not do ourselves justice.

"We are a young side and we play with the confidence that comes from having young legs and fresh minds in almost every area of the park, with a couple of experienced heads like Jason Scotland and Martin Canning up top and at the back.

"So I think there is the right type of combination in the team to allow us to take the game to Hibs but at the same time not go gung-ho.

"But we have reached the Premiership play-off final and now we are there we are intent on doing ourselves justice."

The 31-year-old spent 10 years with William Hill Scottish Cup winners St Johnstone during which he became a close friend of Hibs playmaker Liam Craig.

The Hamilton keeper said: "Liam has tremendous ability on the ball and is a threat from the set-piece. For me, if he plays well then Hibs generally do.

"So I think how we shut him down will be very important and it will be vital that we press him every time he is on the ball.

"The fact that Liam has scored nine goals this season from midfield for a Hibs team that have been struggling underlines just how big a player he is for them.

"You look at the likes of Kevin Thomson and they have a former Scotland international in there who is a Hibs fan.

"He will be sweating blood for them tonight.

"We are going to have to make sure we match that level of commitment all over the park."

While Hibs, despite their free-fall, are regarded as favourites by some, Hamilton will take heart from their victory over other Premiership opposition earlier this season.

That came when Alex Neil's men defeated Kilmarnock in the League Cup and Cuthbert says the memory of that success will give Accies belief.

The Hamilton keeper said: "We have played two Premiership teams already this season, beaten Kilmarnock and lost to St Johnstone.

"In both games we held our own.

"So we will not be going into the Hibs tie with a sense of inferiority.

"This is a massive opportunity and one we intend to take."